The Cardinals finally got a clean bullpen night Wednesday, and it showed in the result. St. Louis blanked the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 to end a four-game losing streak, with Hunter Dobbins setting the tone by throwing six shutout innings before the relief corps finished the job.
Luis Gastélum, George Soriano and Riley O'Brien each handled an inning, and all three delivered. Together, they covered three scoreless frames, gave up just one hit and struck out five Angels hitters. After a few rough days, it was exactly the kind of performance the Cardinals needed.
That’s also why the bullpen’s recent issues are impossible to ignore. St.
Louis enters with the 19th-ranked bullpen ERA in baseball at 4.21, and that number has reflected the season for the most part. The group has been hit hard over the last several games, too.
O'Brien was tagged for two earned runs in Monday’s loss to Los Angeles. On Sunday, Ryne Stanek, Soriano and Gordon Graceffo each allowed at least one run, while Gastélum was charged with an unearned run.
Tuesday wasn’t a total collapse, but Matthew Liberatore gave up five runs and left the Cardinals too far behind to recover.
Wednesday was the reminder of what this group can look like when it’s right. The problem is getting there consistently. And there are a few ways the Cardinals could try to patch things up.
One option is to move Liberatore into the bullpen and keep Dobbins in the rotation. That would give St.
Louis another left-handed arm while JoJo Romero is out. It would also line up with the split the Cardinals have seen from opposing hitters: batters are hitting .264 the first time through the order this season, but that number jumps to .358 the third time through.
Another path would be to keep Dobbins starting and explore other rotation moves, including a six-man setup or even sending Liberatore to Triple-A. That would open the door for Brycen Mautz, who has been excellent in Triple-A with a 2.84 ERA in 18 appearances, 16 of them starts. Mautz has only appeared once in the majors, and that outing came out of the bullpen, but he would add another left-handed option.
There’s also the trade route, and Andrew Kittredge is one name that makes sense to at least consider. He has made 32 appearances for the Baltimore Orioles this season and owns a 3.86 ERA.
With Baltimore three games below .500, it’s reasonable to think the Orioles could move some pieces. A 3.86 ERA from a 36-year-old wouldn’t cost a massive return, which makes him the kind of arm a team could potentially land for a lower-level prospect.
However the Cardinals choose to handle it, the message is clear: the bullpen needs help. Whether that comes from Liberatore, Mautz, a trade or another move, St. Louis has options to work with.
In Other News...
Cardinals Just Took Another Hit Where They Could Least Afford It
While the major league club keeps searching for steadier footing, the Cardinals are also sorting through a busy stretch of roster maintenance down on the farm. Ramon Urias has started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis after being sidelined since May 5, giving St. Louis at least one injured piece a path back, while the organization continues to juggle depth as the trade deadline approaches.
Memphis has already seen some turnover this week, with Scott Blewett and Ian Bedell both moving on from the system. Blewetts brief stop provided a day of bullpen help before his release, and Bedell was granted his release while working his way back from injury, leaving the Cardinals with more questions than answers as they try to keep the pipeline intact. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Still Waiting On Answers From Two Once-Critical Young Bats
Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II were supposed to be part of the Cardinals next wave, the kind of young bats that could help steady the lineup while the club sorted out its long-term picture. Instead, both were pushed out of the majors during the 2026 season after underperforming at the plate, and each has spent time trying to reset in Triple-A with the hope of forcing his way back into the conversation.
Gormans path has been especially uneven, with a brief stop in the Florida Complex League before he moved up to Triple-A to work on his swing. Scott, meanwhile, still brings the defensive value that once made him so intriguing, but his bat has not taken the step forward St. Louis needs to see. The Cardinals are still waiting for both players to show enough progress to make the next decision obvious, and for now that answer remains just out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Executive Just Sent A Message Fans May Hate
The Cardinals latest loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks only added to the frustration around a season that has not gone the way many in St. Louis hoped, but the front office is still framing the picture as far from finished. Assistant general manager Randy Flores pointed out that the club remains close to the Wild Card race and stressed that there is still plenty of season left for the team to improve its standing.
That message may not sit well with fans who want a more aggressive push right now, especially with the trade deadline approaching and the Cardinals still sorting out what kind of move makes sense. The expectation is that St. Louis could deal some expendable pieces rather than chase short-term help at the expense of the future, a stance that lines up with the organizations broader reluctance to sacrifice long-term value for a quick fix. [Read more 🡒]